SWOT Analysis of Sustainable Goals in an Australian Context

Goal Key targets Strength Weakness Opportunities Threats

In 2018-19, 38.5 million Australia has been Redistributing food Australia’s per capita
12.3 By 2030, halve per tonnes of waste were assessed as ‘Off that would otherwise material footprint is
Goal 12: capita global food sent for recycling whilst Track to reaching the be wasted will help increasing, and is one
Responsible waste at the retail and 20.5 million tonnes SDG target’ (Monash feed the more than of the highest in the
Consumption and were sent to landfill for University, 2020). one in five world at >70% above
consumer levels and
Production disposal (Monash Australians who do the OECD average
reduce food losses University, 2020). (Monash University,
Each year we waste not have adequate
along production and 2020).
around 7.6 million access to food
supply chains, including Seven out of the eight
tonnes of food across (Department of
post-harvest losses Australian states and Natural disasters
territories have banned the supply and Climate Change,
such as floods and
single-use plastics consumption chain – Energy, the
12.5 By 2030, hurricanes contribute
(Australian Marine this wastage equals Environment and
substantially reduce to a large amount of
Conservation Society, about 312kg per Water, 2022)
waste generation food waste
2023) person, equivalent to
on harvest, retail,
through prevention, around one in five Investment in
and consumer levels
reduction, recycling and The Western bags of groceries or agricultural efficiency
(Food
reuse Australia Government $2,000 to $2,500 per and innovation,
and Agriculture
has passed laws to ban household per year waste treatment
Organisation, 2013,
plastic plates, bowls, (Department of infrastructure, and
Climate Change, pg. 60)
cups, cutlery, stirrers, ways to create value
straws, thick plastic Energy, the from food waste will
bags, polystyrene food Environment and reduce the amount
containers, and helium Water, 2022). of food waste ending
balloon releases by up in landfill
2022. In stage two, due (Department of
to commence from 27 Climate Change,
February 2023, Energy, the
takeaway coffee Environment and
cups/lids containing
plastic, plastic Water, 2022)
barrier/produce bags,
takeaway containers,
cotton buds with plastic
shafts, polystyrene
packaging, microbeads
and oxo-degradable
plastics will begin to be
banned (Australian
Marine Conservation
Society, 2023)